Ocean Downs: Maryland Sire Stakes champions crowned

Driver Russell Foster and trainer Richard Hans teamed up with Yall Beneath Me and Gooreatness, two horses sired by Hans's former standout trotter Googoo Gaagaa, in winning a pair of $45,000 Maryland Sire Stakes finals for 3-year-olds on Friday night at Ocean Downs.

Yall Beneath Me and Foster sat in the fourth spot in the colt and gelding trot final, then swept past Justrestingmyeyes (Christopher Offutt) before the 1:28 3/5 three-quarters. It was all over but the final margin and the time from there as Yall Beneath Me opened up to the wire, scoring by 15 1/4 lengths in 1:57 4/5. Justrestingmyeyes held second, with Give Em More (Frank Milby) third.

Hans also bred and owns Yall Beneath Me. The colt has ten wins and a second in 11 career starts, and he has now earned $126,350. He was the 1-9 favorite and paid $2.10 to win.

Gooreatness and Foster put up swift opening-half fractions of 27 4/5 and 56 4/5 in the filly trot, opening up a gap on the rest of the field, and continued to show the way to the 1:27 three-quarters, though Two Itchy (Milby) improved from third to second past that marker and began to chip away at Gooreatness's margin. Two Itchy caught Gooreatness on the far turn, angled out, and had dead-aim and every chance to go by through the stretch drive, but she just couldn't, as Gooreatness held sway to win by half a length in 1:58 2/5. Goodygoodytwoshoes (Victor Kirby Jr.) came in third.

Also owned by Hans and bred by Arlene Cameron, Gooreatness is now a three-time winner from 12 career attempts, and she has pocketed $36,770. She was a 5-1 shot and returned $13.80 to win.

In the filly pace Hillbilly Kisses (Milby) shot to the lead from post one and hit the opening quarter in 27 3/5 and the half in 56 1/5. 1-5 choice Breeze Away B (Allan Davis) broke stride on the first turn, got left out by Hillbilly Kisses after getting back on-stride, and then broke again on turn three, allowing I'd Be Rich (Corey Callahan) to swing out two-wide from the pocket and get the lead on the rim at the 1:25 3/5 three-quarters.

I'd Be Rich continued to show an advantage on the outside around the last turn, but she never could clear Hillbilly Kisses, and in the lane Hillbilly Kisses came back on, regaining the top spot en route to a 1 3/4 length decision in 1:55 2/5. I'd Be Rich had to settle for second and Writteninred (Declan Donoway) checked in third.

A daughter of Rusty's All In, Hillbilly Kisses is trained by Brian Callahan for owner/breeder Hillbilly Haven Farms. Hillbilly Kisses sports a record of 4-2-1 from ten appearances, has stashed away $40,511, and paid $22.20 to win as an 11-1 offering.

Trainer Arlene Cameron swept the trifecta in the colt and gelding pace, with Nvrfearlloydishere (Eddie Davis Jr.) in control through fractions of 29 2/5, 59, and 1:27 3/5 on his way to a 6 1/4 length victory in 1:55 3/5. Stablemate Toms All In (John Wagner) was the runner-up, and K J Michael (Jared Moyer) completed the Cameron top-three.

Pamela Wagner bred and owns Nvrfearlloydishere, a gelded son of Rusty's All In. Nvrfearlloydishere made his 11th stop in the winner's circle from 15 efforts, and he has now banked $98,945. He was the 1-9 choice and returned $2.20 to win.